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Introduction: Culture and Tradition |
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 We take great pleasure
in introducing this remarkable new stamp ingot collection, “Culture
and Tradition: The Lunar New Year Collection. The 12 beautifully engraved
ingots represent the fulfillment of a commitment that began in 1988,
when the Organization of Chinese-Americans (OCA) proposed the idea
of a postage stamp that would commemorate the important contribution
of the Chinese people in America. In 1992, renowned graphic designer
Clarence Lee was selected to design one stamp depicting the Chinese
lunar symbol for 1993, the “Year of the Rooster,“ to honor Chinese
Americans. The overwhelming demand for the stamp made it one of the
most successful issues in the history of the United States Postal
Service. The result was the creation of a series of 12 stamps, one
for each of the animals in the Chinese lunar cycle. Since 1993 one
new stamp has been issued every Chinese New Year, taking 12 years
to complete the series, and ending with the “Year of the Monkey“
to be unveiled to the public for the first time on January 18th, 2004.
At the culmination of this important program all 12 celebrated stamp
designs have been re-created as engraved solid silver ingots, layered
with 24-karat gold, thus preserving them forever in a magnificent
collection that is destined to be handed down from one generation
to the next as a treasured and visible symbol of an ancient culture
and continuing tradition.
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The Lunar New Year
Collection is officially
licensed and authorized
by The United
States Postal Service. |
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